Featured Assessing a Milwaukee Chair Co. Captain's Chair

A couple years ago I picked up what was simply advertised as a vintage office chair near Wichita Kansas, in a fairly worn state (first photo, left side). After delving into a bit of refinishing (right side of photo), not only did it appear the chair was constructed of solid cherry wood, but the iron underside revealed the somewhat faint but discernable Milwaukee Chair Co. mark, with the raising/lowering disks stating "Pat in US & Gr. Britain".
I am no expert, but I have neither before nor since seen a Milwaukee chair in this "Captain's chair" design. The workmanship seems quite fine, very polished, right down to the 21 cherry ribs. The wheels are brass, the iron underbelly is very robust with a double spring mechanism, and the raising/lowering/tilting bits work flawlessly.

Would anyone have a guess as to age, and approximate value range?

 

I love the lines ! I think it could be 1880-1900ish give or take a few years. Vaguely Empire .

 

possible a tad earlier....it's a cut above the oft seen office chair...

 

I was wondering if it might be an early Milwaukee in that pre-1900 range @johnnycb09 , if only due to the faintness of the maker's logo and the lack of that "1914" patent date one sees on many Milwaukee chairs. @komokwa , where did you find that photo? Looks like a dead ringer, apart from the type of wood!

Linking in @verybrad , who has weighed in on many a discussion

 

an old eBay pic....but I didn't get further with your high back curled top and those flared arms.......

look close , your chairs legs are different and the seat is flat ...as opposed to what I found ...

 

Thanks @komokwa ! Actually that seat does look the same, my pic doesn't show it well but it does have that subtle peak in the center. You're right about the legs, mine look a bit thicker/heavier.

 

if yer pic doesn't show it...I can't see it...!!

so yes.... they are more alike than it thought !!!

 

Would agree with a late 19th century date, on into the early 20th century. Can imagine it could have been made virtually unchanged for a decade or two. Would think this a premium model based on styling. As such, there were probably fewer made than more standard models. I really think this is birch with a stain to mimic mahogany. While some office chairs could have been made of cherry, it is not a standard choice for such. It is probably considered too soft and most were made in oak or birch. Milwaukee Chair was one of the larger makers of such chairs and I really don't see them working in cherry.

 

Thanks for that @verybrad ! I'm a sheer novice when it comes to identifying hardwood grains; here's a few closeup snaps, if that helps you. I was thinking perhaps the little blemishes here and there might be the "pitch pockets" that apparently come with cherry from time to time ... Not sure what to call what appears to be a gash on the left side of the back support; the wood is quite smooth there as it's a "feature" of the grain. Appreciate your input!

 

Still on board with birch. We would call that "gash" a sap vein and agree that it is a natural feature.

 

Thanks @verybrad - I'm going to do a bit of additional research, see if I can get a consensus

 

As for age based on the materials, design, and the patent marks, I guess that this chair is from the early 20th century—possibly 1900s to 1930s,

 

Company was founded, according to the internet, in 1889. They later changed the height adjuster on their chairs and added the language "Pat. Oct 20, 1914." That should be your window.

Debora

 

Thanks @Debora, I was thinking it could be pre-1914 due to the lack of date in the patent mark. So we're possibly in the 1890-1913 sort of range

 

Like @verybrad said.

Debora

 

As an update, it seems the consensus opinion from 2 different woodworking forums is that the wood is likely walnut. Specifically air dried walnut, from one contributor, which apparently can produce the rich reddish brown coloring.